"To fail to plan is to plan to fail."

The Reid Group believes creative and effective planning is vital for both leaders and organizations, and leads to greater focus and achievement. The Reid Group uses an approach called prophetic planning and includes four elements with non-profit groups:

1. Planning for the future is based on knowledge and appreciation for the story of the organization that has evolved from the past.
2. This approach to planning in non-profit organizations is primarily about faith, change and healing, and secondarily about organizational development.
3. While appreciating what has been, this approach to planning invites leaders to be bold, and ask questions like, “What would we do if we were 10 times bolder?” and “What would we do if we REALLY considered ourselves a FOR PROPHET organization?”
4. Helping an organization reach consensus and speak with one voice on a preferred future.

Organizations face these challenges:

• The reality of rapid change
• Maintaining commitment and a sense of mission
• Renew ngorganizations and enhancing productivity

Opportunities offered by a focus on planning:

• Develop a shared vision
• Generate more energy

Six Elements of a Successful Plan

1. Participation by all the key constituents
2. Crafting clear statements
3. Addressing important issues
4. Creative promotion of the plan
5. Making the transition from planning to implementation
6. Ongoing evaluation and updates of the plan

The Four Stages of the Plan

1. Directional Planning: Mission, Value and Vision Statements
2. Strategic Planning: Goals and Priorities and Issues
3. Operational Planning: Objectives and Action Steps
4. Administrative Planning: Monitoring and Evaluating

Key Questions for Effective Planning

• What are we about?
• Where are we heading?
• Why are we doing what we are doing?
• How will we achieve our goals?
• Who will be involved?
• When will all the work take place?